Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-04-2013, 09:29 AM   #1
Guru
 
MurrayM's Avatar
 
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
Battery bank connections

Hi there,

Starting to look into putting a new battery bank into our boat and found this tutorial on how best to make the connections from SmartGauge Electronics;

SmartGauge Electronics - Interconnecting multiple batteries to form one larger bank

Watchya think?
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
MurrayM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 09:49 AM   #2
Guru
 
Anode's Avatar
 
City: Missourah
Vessel Name: M/V Scout
Vessel Model: Sundowner Tug 30'
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 645
I use method #2.
__________________
Chip

Deliveries & Yacht Services
www.captainchip.com
Anode is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 09:59 AM   #3
Guru
 
Phil Fill's Avatar
 
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
I use both depending on how long the cables are, but I prefer #2 if possible.
Phil Fill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 10:15 AM   #4
Guru
 
Edelweiss's Avatar
 
City: PNW
Vessel Model: 1976 Californian Tricabin LRC
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,860
Interesting??

When I bought my boat the four batteries, divided in two banks, were wired like example #1. My brother looked at it and immediately moved the ground cables so they were wired like #2. He said that was the proper way to wire mulple batteries in parallel. I never knew why exactly, but makes sense.

Thanks for the post, that's good information.
__________________
Larry B
Careful . . .I Have a Generator and I'm not afraid to use it !
Edelweiss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 10:22 AM   #5
Guru
 
fryedaze's Avatar
 
City: Solomons Island Md
Vessel Name: Fryedaze
Vessel Model: MC 42 (Overseas Co) Monk 42
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,721
Once again the Trawler Forum gives me a big AH HA. I just wired in eight new house bank batteries and did it like #1 example. I will be changing it to #2.
__________________
Dave Frye
Fryedaze, MC 42 (Monk 42') 1989 Overseas Co
https://mvfryedaze.blogspot.com/
fryedaze is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 11:05 AM   #6
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
That's been posted here before in previous battery discussions, but it's good information. I have that page bookmarked in my boat electrical links.

When I recabled, I used Method #2.
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 01:45 PM   #7
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,785
I think that this topic is like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

The whole rational for these schemes is to make sure that each battery receives exactly the same voltage as the others. But does anyone really think that there is a significant voltage drop between batteries?

50 amps through 2/0 cable 3' long (about the round trip distance between three batteries with even the worst wiring configuration- #1) is about a hundredth of a volt.
DavidM is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 05:17 PM   #8
Moderator Emeritus
 
Bay Pelican's Avatar
 
City: Chicago, IL
Vessel Name: Bay Pelican
Vessel Model: Krogen 42
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,993
I use a variant of #2, in that my DC, non-inverter load is taken from one end and my inverter load is taken from the other end.

Don't know if this is good or bad but it seems to make sense to me.

When charging the bank is split in two with each half charged separately.

Marty
Bay Pelican is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 09:14 PM   #9
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,148
Quote:
Originally Posted by djmarchand View Post
I think that this topic is like asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

The whole rational for these schemes is to make sure that each battery receives exactly the same voltage as the others. But does anyone really think that there is a significant voltage drop between batteries?

50 amps through 2/0 cable 3' long (about the round trip distance between three batteries with even the worst wiring configuration- #1) is about a hundredth of a volt.
I tend to agree that there are other factors that may be a bigger issue than just the way you line up the cables...but if all else is perfect...why not.....
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-04-2013, 09:59 PM   #10
Guru
 
motion30's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,181
I also. Agree. what seems good and theory does not always work out in actual practice
motion30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2013, 01:17 AM   #11
Guru
 
MurrayM's Avatar
 
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
Thanks for the general vote of confidence in this source of information. It's all pretty much voodoo mystical mumbo-jumbo to me!

Here's a series of articles from the same site, written for people who's brains aren't wired for wiring things, so to speak;

SmartGauge Electronics - Technical Section - page 1
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
MurrayM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2013, 05:47 AM   #12
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
For folks that get batteries with an auto style post , that are very hard to connect , remember NAPA sells a terminal they book as military style that will allow std eye terminals to be used , and ganged if required

.P or N as required.Cheaper by the box.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...tery-Terminals

Is what they look like , and full covers are available as required .

Also there harder to find bur copper bolts and washers , not SS or brass, will loose less juice in all connections.Esp the big ones like the Ground that may need to pass lots of amps at different times .
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2013, 05:53 AM   #13
Curmudgeon
 
BaltimoreLurker's Avatar
 
City: Stoney Creek, MD
Vessel Name: Moon Dance
Vessel Model: 1974 34' Marine Trader Sedan
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,775
Hey, I got that one right! Maybe that's why my Xantrex charger works so well while others find them to be junk. Not to start that debate once again ...
BaltimoreLurker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2013, 01:52 PM   #14
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
<The whole rational for these schemes is to make sure that each battery receives exactly the same voltage as the others. But does anyone really think that there is a significant voltage drop between batteries?>

Who would care?

A batt charged at 14.15V will last as long and charge as well as one that receives 14.20V, so where is the problem?

To live long and prosper batts need to NOT be killed.

Low water , discharge deep, and let the batt sit for weeks , or over charging will kill batts faster than a 5 ft difference in their charge lead.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012